U-571

[GO-NAD!]

I watched U-571 on BD last night. I only bought it because it was cheap and it's a submarine movie. The PQ/SQ are excellent - the LFE had the SDX12's shaking the walls - but the plot is ludicrous.

 

[Adam]

...but the plot is ludicrous.

What?! I thought it was a documentary.

Btw, what makes you say that?

 

[GO-NAD!]

What?! I thought it was a documentary.

Btw, what makes you say that?

Because, as a former submariner, it requires a suspension of disbelief that I simply cannot reach. Submarines are not simple to operate - even WW2 boats. It would be virtually impossible for a handful of American submariners to go from an old American S-Class to a German Type VII and be expected to instantly figure out how to operate it. The high pressure air leak that was preventing the firing of a torpedo from the aft tube wasn't like a real leak. A real HP air leak is loud enough to shake your very soul. And, it was going on long enough that all the air bottles would have been empty by the time they had isolated the leak - which would have meant that they wouldn't be able to surface again. I could go on and on in boring detail, but suffice it to say, the scenarios weren't at all realistic. To someone who hasn't specific knowledge of submarines, it might seem plausible. But I can assure you - it ain't.

 

[Adam]

I'm guessing that you've never operated a German Type VII, so I'm going to continue to believe that they could operate it. It was Matthew McConaughey, after all.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I'm guessing that you've never operated a German Type VII, so I'm going to continue to believe that they could operate it. It was Matthew McConaughey, after all.

You're right. I take it all back. What was I thinking?

 

[Alex2507]

but the plot is ludicrous.

what makes you say that?

... not enough romance.

 

[Swerd]

I watched U-571 on BD last night. I only bought it because it was cheap and it's a submarine movie. The PQ/SQ are excellent - the LFE had the SDX12's shaking the walls - but the plot is ludicrous.

What you say is no doubt true, although I never stepped aboard any ship while I was in the Navy (US). However, I did listen to lots of Soviet submarines on the radio, and I learned all the lore from WWII about the value of radio intercept, radio direction finding to locate a sub, and reading encrypted messages. And that movie also got that wrong too! See the wikipedia article on that movie U-571 (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How many of us ever had real experience with something that was portrayed in a movie? How many of us came away saying, "yep, they got that right"?

... not enough romance.

Not enough romance on a submarine? C'est impossible!

 

[Alex2507]

Not enough romance on a submarine? C'est impossible!

preventing the firing of a torpedo from the aft tube

How else can that be read?

 

[Swerd]

preventing the firing of a torpedo from the aft tube

Not enough romance on a submarine? C'est impossible!

How else can that be read?

Not enough gerbils, German Type VII gerbils.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I watched U-571 on BD last night. I only bought it because it was cheap and it's a submarine movie. The PQ/SQ are excellent - the LFE had the SDX12's shaking the walls - but the plot is ludicrous.

Well, your sub got a good workout that you seem to have enjoyed
The story, it seems is just that, a story on film.

 

[3db]

Its Hollywood. Artistic creativity gone mad. The capture of the Enigma couldn't be further than the truth as portrayed in this film. However, the video is excellent and the sound track is a tour de force. I enjoyed it not paying too much attention to the physics or lack. Maybe the film should start as "once upon a time" and end with "they all lived happily ever after"

 

[Adam]

The capture of the Enigma couldn't be further than the truth as portrayed in this film.

I beg to differ.

"Is that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?! "

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Because, as a former submariner, it requires a suspension of disbelief that I simply cannot reach. Submarines are not simple to operate - even WW2 boats. It would be virtually impossible for a handful of American submariners to go from an old American S-Class to a German Type VII and be expected to instantly figure out how to operate it. The high pressure air leak that was preventing the firing of a torpedo from the aft tube wasn't like a real leak. A real HP air leak is loud enough to shake your very soul. And, it was going on long enough that all the air bottles would have been empty by the time they had isolated the leak - which would have meant that they wouldn't be able to surface again. I could go on and on in boring detail, but suffice it to say, the scenarios weren't at all realistic. To someone who hasn't specific knowledge of submarines, it might seem plausible. But I can assure you - it ain't.

Is any of this true?

 

[3db]

I beg to differ.

"Is that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?! "

Maybe..???

 

[Alex2507]

Is any of this true?

He seems to be on the level. Oh sh!t, I just realized that was a link. Nevermind.

 

[Adam]

He seems to be on the level. Oh sh!t, I just realized that was a link. Nevermind.

Woed. I could see the blue tint on the word, but it's too bad that they don't underline links by default now.

Btw, am I the only one who's thinking - just because a Canadian couldn't figure out how to work a German sub, that doesn't mean that an American couldn't?

 

[GO-NAD!]

Is any of this true?

Yes. Yes, it is.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Woed. I could see the blue tint on the word, but it's too bad that they don't underline links by default now.

Btw, am I the only one who's thinking - just because a Canadian couldn't figure out how to work a German sub, that doesn't mean that an American couldn't?

If a Canadian couldn't figure it out, by default, an American couldn't.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I realize that in order to make the movie work, they would have to gloss over some of the technical aspects. Given sufficient time, the Americans could probably figure the systems out. But, in the time frame of the movie, it just isn't possible.

To anyone who isn't familiar with submarines, it might seem like I'm nit-picking. All I'm saying is that it isn't a realistic portrayal. It was entertaining enough, but I might have enjoyed it more if I was ignorant of the subject. I never even touched on the American boat at all. The scene where a crewman is tapping on pipes with a hammer in the Control room in order to find weak spots just would not have happened. A boat in such a deplorable state would not have been allowed to leave port - war, or no war.

Actually, U-571 isn't as bad as Hunt For Red October. That movie had us in stitches, it was so unbelievable.

The submarine movie that would be the most realistic is, of course, Das Boot. Great movie. I'm glad I wasn't there.

 

[3db]

I realize that in order to make the movie work, they would have to gloss over some of the technical aspects. Given sufficient time, the Americans could probably figure the systems out. But, in the time frame of the movie, it just isn't possible.

To anyone who isn't familiar with submarines, it might seem like I'm nit-picking. All I'm saying is that it isn't a realistic portrayal. It was entertaining enough, but I might have enjoyed it more if I was ignorant of the subject. I never even touched on the American boat at all. The scene where a crewman is tapping on pipes with a hammer in the Control room in order to find weak spots just would not have happened. A boat in such a deplorable state would not have been allowed to leave port - war, or no war.

Actually, U-571 isn't as bad as Hunt For Red October. That movie had us in stitches, it was so unbelievable.

The submarine movie that would be the most realistic is, of course, Das Boot. Great movie. I'm glad I wasn't there.

I really felt for the sailors after watching "Das Boot" . I would not have wanted to be stuck in any tin can regardless of who made it.